Fabric reeling and measuring apparatus.



J. ADDISON.

FABRIC REELING AND MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED nuts, 1914.

1,168,268, Patented Jan. 18,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. ADDISON.

FABRICREELING AND MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1914.

1,168,268. Patented 111111.18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. ADDISON. FABRIC REELING AND MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1914.

1,168,268. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

5' SHEETSSHEET a.

J. ADDISON. I

FABRIC REELING AND MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY I5, 1914.

1,168,268. Patented Jan.18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Snow W61 WWW Tm: COLUMBIA PLArgQdRAPk-l co, WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. ADDISON.

FABRIC REELING AND MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYI5,1914.

1,168,268. Patented Jail. 18, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- MM 32 m. WW

TE STATES ATEN EEC.

JOSIAH ADDISON, OF BROUGHTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F FORTY-F'IVE ONE- I-IUNDREDTHS TO FRANCIS W. DAVIS, OF BROUGHTON, ILLINOIS.

FABRIC REELING AND MEASURING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,775.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I JOSIAH ADDISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Broughton, in the county'of Hamilton and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fabric Reeling and Measuring Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a fabric reeling and measuring apparatus. It is a well known fact to retail dealers that devices of this character heretofore invented, being horizontally disposed occupy a greater store space and it is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a vertically and rotatably mounted reel for holding a plurality of rolls of fabric, being especially adapted for screen wire, the reel having novel means associated therewith for drawing wire from one of the rolls and further provides measuring means associated with the wire being withdrawn for automatically measuring the amount withdrawn.

Another object of my invention resides in the construction and arrangement of the manually operated drawing means for the wire having novel means associated therewith for facilitating the engagement of the wire with the same, the drawing means further having novel means in connection therewith for removably holding the same in an operative position.

A further object of my invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of the measuring means, the latter having means in connection therewith for moving the same into and out of engagement with the fabric which automatically actuates the measuring means.

A still further object of my invention resides in the holding means for the rolls of wire which is in the form of a reel, the latter having a novel means removably mounted thereon for facilitating the retension and positive actuation of the rolls of wire; means is also provided for limiting the movement of the reel to a predetermined point.

A still further object of my invention resides in the pro-vision of an improved clamping means associated with the fabric or screen that is being dispensed for preventing accidental movement of the same when the required amount is obtained, the clamping means comprising a pair of cooperatively associated elements having means in connection therewith for facilitating a positive operation of the same.

A still further object of my invention re sides in the provision of a novel means for guiding the fabric being withdrawn for facilitating the engagement of the fabric with the measuring means.

A- still. further object of my invention resides in the provision of an apparatus of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Other ob'ects as well as the nature characteristic features and scope of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 represents a horizontal sectional view of the same; Fig. 4 represents an end elevational view of the same; Fig. 5 represents a side elevational view partly in section of the clamping means for the wire; Fig. 6 represents a side elevaticnal view partly in section of one of the spindles for retaining the wire, partly in section showing to advantage the engaging means thereon for preventing rotation of the wire about the spindle; Fig. 7 represents a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 represents an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of the drawing means, showing especially the manner of mounting the stub shafts, and Fig. 9 represents an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the supporting beam showing especially the manner in which the upper end of the shaft is remov ably mounted therein. Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of theyieldably supported bar and the sectional roller.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views, I provide a base 1, of substantially rectangular configuration having one end thereof preferably curved and a portion ad acent the curved end reduced to provide a substantially semicircular recess 2, the side edges of which are arranged in standing therefrom and arranged perpendicularly thereto, the rod having rotatably mounted thereon my reel generally designated 6, the latter having its lower portion thereof disposed upon the recess and arranged in close relation with the sides thereof and holds rolls of fabric, preferably wire.

The reel 6 in this instance consists of upper and lower parallel ring members 7 and 8, the latter having connected to their inner peripheries a plurality of uniformly spaced slats 9 for connecting the same and have further provided adjacent their outer edges a plurality of vertically extending uniformly spaced rods 10. The reel is supported about the rod 5 by means of cross bars 11 secured to the under surface of the lower ring member 8, the members being further provided at the point of intersection with an opening 12 for engagement with the rod 5 which has the upper end thereof supported by means of cross bars 13 on the under surface of each of which at the point of intersection is rigidly secured a socket 14 for engagement with the free upper end of the rod 5.

For the purpose of holding a plurality of rolls of screen wire upon the reel 8 and for preventing the accidental displacement of the same and assuring the positive operation of the rolls, I have provided a plurality of spindles 15 and rotatably mounted the same in the openings 16 in the upper of the ring members and the registering sockets 17 in the lower of the ring members 8, the rods having their lower ends reduced for facilitating engagement with the sockets, which sockets together with the openings are arranged in circumferential relation with the edges of the rings and are positioned at points substantially between the rods 10 for allowing the wire to be placed between the same before the spindles are placed in a supporting position.

Means is provided for engaging the inner periphery of the roll of wire for preventing the same from rotating about the spindles and consists essentially of a longitudinally arranged slot 18 extending from the upper end on each of the spindles to a point approximately intermediate its ends, the slot having arranged therein an elongated lever 19, slidably mounted by means of a slanting slot 20 therein, which slot is arranged about a pin 21, the lower end of the lever being diverged and having its free end thereof cut diagonally and serrated to provide teeth 22 for engagement with the inner periphery of the roll of wire. The upper end of the lever is provided with a handle 23 and is guided during its movement by means of a slotted cap 2st secured to the upper end of the spindle.

In order to prevent the rolls of wire 25 from accidentally unwinding when the same are not being used, I have provided preferably a plurality of friction rollers 26, the latter being secured to the inner faces of the slats 9 at points substantially intermediate the ends thereof. Each of the friction rollers 26 consist in this instance of the rollers which are rotatably mounted on one end of a substantially rectangular frame 27, the opposite ends of which are pivotally secured to the slats and have disposed thereabout resilient elements 28, the respective ends of which are rigidly connected to one side of the frame and the slat. Means is also provided for preventing rotation of the reel 6 beyond a predetermined point and con sists essentially of a stop 29 formed preferably from a single piece of metal and bent into a substantially rectangular form and now bent into a substantially S-shaped configuration in elevation, one end being pivot-- ally mounted between a securing element 30 and the opposite ends of which have the side portions thereof adapted for engage Inent about the sides of one of the rods 10. A supporting frame generally designated 31 is rigidly connected intermediate the side edges of the base 1 adjacent the recess 2 and in this instance comprises vertical standards 32 and and which are connected, by a horizontally disposed beam 34. The latter is provided with a reduced portion adjacent the standard 33 for a purpose to be hereinafter referred to.

I For the purpose of drawing wire from one of the spindles, I have rotatably and removably mounted in the socket 36 in the base and the transverse recess 37 in the beam, the respective ends of a sectional gripping means, the latter being retained within the recess by means of an improved locking means. The drawing means in this instance consists essentially of a sectional roller, one of the sections 38 being semicircular in cross section and the other of the sections 39 being in the shape of a quarter of a circle in cross section and is pivotally connected to the section 38 by means of a hinge 10, the latter being embedded in a semicircular section and reversely secured to one side of the section 39 in order to form an eccentric mounting when the quarter-shaped section is moved upon the semicircular section.

In order that the fabric may be engaged by the drawing means, I have vprovided a plurality of uniformly spaced prongs :41 upon the outer side edge of the section 39. For the purpose'of supporting the drawing means within the alining recess37 and socket 36, I have provided stub shafts 42 and have embedded and secured the flattened ends 43 thereof by means of suitable fastening devices 44 within longitudinally arranged and rectangularly shaped recesses 45 adjacent the upper and lower ends of the semicircular section 38. The locking means heretofore referred to for removably holding the upper of the stub shafts 42 within the recess 37 consists essentially of a hinged lock member 46 secured to the side of the beam 34, the elongated portion thereof extending across the recess and engageable by the horizontally sliding locking strip 46 made slidable with respect to the beam by pin and slot arrangements $7 and having one of its ends bent upwardly at right angles and the free portion thereof being arranged in spaced parallel relation with the side of the beam to form an engaging clip $8 and the opposite end thereof being bent outwardly to form a finger piece t9 for facilitating the operation of the same. For the purpose of rotating the drawing means and for preventing the reverse rotation of the same, I have rigidly connected on the squared end of the upper of the stub shafts 4'2 a crank handle 50 and disposed beneath the same is a ratchet wheel 51, the latter being horizontally disposed and arranged in close relation with the upper surface of the beam 34 and engageable by a pawl 52 pivotally connected to the beam, the pawl being held in engagement at its pointed end by means of an elastic element 53 which in this instance consists essentially of a fiat spring, the opposite end of the pawl being engageable, at times, by a clamp 5-1 when it is desired to hold the same out of engagement with the ratchet.

For the purpose of facilitating the engagement of the fabric about the sectional rollers and for causing the fabric to be tightly wound thereabout, I have provided a yieldingly supported bar the latter being provided on its front face with a plurality of transversely extending grooves 56, uniformly spaced apart and arranged in alinement with the prongs 41, the bar being yieldingly supported by means of horizontally disposed substantially U-shaped brackets 57 carried by the beam and the base at points adjacent the recess 37 and the socket 36, and which brackets slidingly receive bolts 58 carried by the rear face of the bar, the free ends of which are screw threaded and have nuts 59 mounted thereon for adjusting purposes. Elastic elements 60, preferably coil springs are disposed about the bolts between the inner surface of the bar and the brackets and serve to at all times hold the bar in engagement with the sectional roller.

For the purpose of automatically measuring the fabric while it is being withdrawn from one of the rolls, I have disposed a measuring means upon a lever 61, one end of which is pivotally connected to a horizontally disposed and laterally extending bracket 62 carried on the rear face of the vertical standard 33 at a point substantially intermediate the ends, the pivotal connection being preferably in the form of a vertically screw-threaded stud 63 and a knurled nut 64: which facilitates the removal of the inner end of the lever, the opposite end of which is supported by means of a substantially U-shaped laterally extending bracket 65 carried on the rear face of the vertical standard 32 and arranged in alinement with the bracket 62. The lever has a spring controlled clasp 66 pivotally connected on its free end, the outer end of which clasp is bent slightly upwardly to form a tongue 67 for engagement with the notches 68 provided on the adjacent edge of the upper portion of the bracket, the catch and notches serving as a locking means for adjusting the lever 61. The measuring means which is supported by the lever 61 at a point adjacent its inner end, consists essentially of a disk 69 rotatably mounted about a vertically disposed screw-threaded pin 70 carried by the lever, the disk having its outer periphery provided. with a plurality of uniformly spaced pins 71 for engagement with the wire as it is being withdrawn from the rolls by the drawing means. The disk is held in position by means of a nut 7 2 threaded upon the pin, the latter having disposed about the same a pointer 73 which is held and prevented from rotating by means of a knurled nut 7% which clamps the same between the nut. Suitable graduations are disposed upon the outer edge of the disk which in this instance is preferably a yard in circumference, the graduations being one quarter, one half, three quarters and one, so that upon each revolution one yard is measured.

For the purpose of guiding the wire into engagement with the measuring means as the wire is being withdrawn from one of the rolls, I have pivotally connected to the base by means of a hinge 714. a vertically extending bar 75, the upper end of which bears against the reduced portion 35 of the beam 3 L and is held in spaced relation adjacent the standard 33 by means of a pivotallv connected hook-like fastening element 76, the latter conforming substantially to the con figuration of two of the adjacent-sides of the squared standard. It can be seen that by this arrangement that as the member is pivotally connected the same can be let downwardly into a position substantially parallel with the base and the wire engaged by the sectional roller, the standard 75 is then secured into an upright position by means of the fastening elements 76 and because of the positioning of the standard which is arranged within the cut-rout portion 35, the wire being withdrawn will be held inwardly and the engagement of the pins 71 with the wire will be facilitated.

For the purpose of clamping the wire that is being withdrawn against a knife blade 77, the latter being secured to the front face of the standard 33 and having the cutting edge extending slightly beyond the inner side edge of the standard and arranged horizontally with the front face thereof for facilitating the cutting, I have associated with the standard and knife my improved clamping means generally designated 7 8 and in this instance consisting of a vertically extending bar 79 the inner face of which is provided with a longitudinally extending recess in which is slidably mounted an elongated clamping plate which is slidably mounted by means of pins 81 in the walls of the recess and extending transversely across the same and operatingin the transversely extending slots 82 in the clamping plate. The bar 79 is pivotally connected at its upper end by means of links 83 arranged on the opposite sides of the same, the links being in turn pivotally connected to the free outer ends of horizontally disposed bracket arms 84 which extend from the op posite sides of the upper end of the standard 33, and it is pivctally connected at its lower end to a securing member by means of links 86 which are arranged on the opposite sides thereof. The links 83 and 86 are complemental and the distance between the pivot point of the securing member and the pivot point of the bracket arms to the front face of the standard 33 is equal and also substantially equal to the length of the links. By this arrangement it can be seen that when the bar 7 9 is lifted upwardly and swung over, the inner face of the plate 80 will bear against the side of the knife 77 and hold the wire therebetween. For the purpose of securely holding the wire between the clamping means, I have pivotally connected a cam lever 87 within an opening 88 extending from the front face of the bar 79 and in communication with the recess therein so that when the lever is forced downwardly after the clamping means is in a closed position, the plate 80 will be forced outwardly by means of the pin and slot arrangements and will bind tightly against the wire thereby absolutely preventing the same from slipping.

The operation of my device is as follows :Rolls of wire 25 being secured by the retailer from a factory are placed upon the reel 6 between the rods 10 and the spindles are inserted in the openings 16 through the roll and into the sockets 17 the rolls being prevented from having rotation about the rotatably mounted spindles by means of the locking lever 19, the teeth 22 of which engage the interior of the roll when the handle 23 is pressed downwardly. The reel 6 is now rotated until the desired roll of wire is positioned adjacent the standard 33 whereupon the stop 29 is engaged about the adjacent rod 10 for preventing movement of the reel and the clamping means 78 being in an open position and the guiding means being in a lowered position, the wire is withdrawn from the roll and extended across the same and the crank handle 50 on the sec tional roller is rotated until the prongs 41 engage the free end of the wire, the guiding means being then swung upwardly and locked in position by means of the fastening element 76 which guiding member forces the wire so that the pins 71 on the measuring disk 70 will engage the wire. The crank handle is now rotated about the sectional roller 38, the yielding supporting bar 55 hearing against the post causes the wire to be wound tightly thereon and simultaneous with the moving of the wire by the drawing means, the measuring disk moves due to the engagement of the pins thereof with the wire and automatically measures the amount withdrawn. lVhen the desired amount has been obtained the catch 66 on the lever 61 is released and the lever moved outwardly so as to disengage the measuring means from the wire and the clamping bar 79 is lifted upwardly and forced over into engagement with the knife carried by the standard 33, the cam lever 87 carried by the bar 79 being forced downwardly causes the plate to bind tightly against the knife and greatly facilitates the engagement of the wire between the knife and the plate. A suitable cutting element preferably a saw tooth blade, not shown, is now engaged by the operator and associated with the blade 77 for severing the wire at this point. In removing the wire from the sectional roller, the latter is first removed by shoving the locking strip 11 out of engagement with the hinge-like locking member, whereupon the sectional roller may be pulled outwardly from the recess and lifted out of the socket 36 into the base. In finally removing the wire from the roller, the latter is grasped by one hand of the operator and the wire turned in a reverse direction thereon so as to cause the prongs 41 to be disengaged from the wire, whereupon the desired amount of wire is slid over one of the ends of the roller and secured by means of a twine 89 or the like suspended from a suitable twine holder 90, the cord being severed therefrom preferably by means of a hook shaped knife 91 rigidly connected to the outer side of the standard 32.

Although I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I desire it to be understood that I am not limited to the exact details shown, however, great stress is laid upon the vertically and rotatably mounted holding and drawing means for the wire having the laterally swinging'vertically arranged and rotatably mounted measuring means co-actingly operated with the wire being withdrawn for automatically measuring the amount withdrawn.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it can easily be seen that I have provided a device that is simple in construction, containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

It will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in detail of construction, proportion and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus, including means for holding a plurality of rolls, means for preventing movement of the holding means beyond a predetermined point, means for drawing a piece from one of the rolls, means yieldingly associated with the drawing means for facilitating the tight winding of the fabric being wound thereon, means disposed between the roll and the drawing means for measuring the amount withdrawn, meansfor guiding the fabric into engagement with the measuring means, and means for moving the measuring means out of engagement with the piece being withdrawn.

2. In a fabric reeling and measuring apparatus, means for holding a roll of fabric, a sectional roller for drawing a piece from the roll, the sections of said roller being co-actingly associated witheach other, one of said sections being eccentrically connected to the other, fabric engaging prongs projecting from the eccentrically mounted section, and means for removably mounting said roller for facilitating the removal of the fabric thereon.

3. In a fabric reel and measuring apparatus, means for holding a roll of fabric, a sectional roller for drawing a piece from the roll, one of said sections being eccentrically connected to the other, fabric engaging prongs projecting from the eccentrically mounted section, a yieldingly sup ported bar coiiperatively associated with the roller for facilitating the tight winding of the fabric on the roller, and said bar being provided with a plurality of recesses for allowing the passage of the engaging prongs during the operation of the roller.

4. In a fabric reeling and measuring apparatus, a rotatably mounted reel, a plurality of rotatably and removably mounted spindles vertically disposed in said reel for holding rolls of fabric, means for limiting the movement of said reel beyond a predetermined point, means removably mounted in each of said spindles for gripping the rolls of fabric and preventing the rotation of the same about the spindles, and means for drawing fabric from one of the spindles.

5. In a fabric reeling and measuring apparatus, means for holding a roll of fabric, means for drawing a piece therefrom, means for preventing reverse movement of the drawing means, and means disposed between the drawing means and holding means for clamping the piece being withdrawn for facilitating the severing of the same.

6. In a fabric reeling and measuring apparatus, means for holding a roll of fabric, means for drawing a piece therefrom, means for preventing reverse movement of the drawing means, means disposed between the drawing means and holding means for clamping the piece being withdrawn for facilitating the severing of the same, and means for permitting of the removal of the drawing means for facilitating the disengagement of the fabric wound on the roll therefrom.

7. In a fabric reeling and measuring apparatus, a rotatably mounted reel, a plurality of fabric retaining standards mounted thereon, means for drawing a piece of fabric from one of the standards, a yieldingly supported bar associated with the drawing means for facilitating the tight winding thereon, means for automatically measuring the amount withdrawn, and means disposed between the drawing means and reel for clamping the piece being withdrawn for facilitating the severing of the same.

8. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including means for holding a roll of fabric, a roller rotatably mounted adjacent thereto, an eccentrically connected section on said roller, and engaging means on the eccentrically connected section for facilitating the drawing of a piece of wire from the holding means.

9. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including means for holding a roll of wire, means for drawing a piece therefrom, yielding means associated with the drawing means for facilitating the winding of fabric thereon, means for preventing reverse movement of the drawing means, and means controlling the last mentioned means for allowing reverse movement thereof when desired.

10. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including means for holding a roll of fabric, means for drawing a piece therefrom, yielding means associated with the l'lU drawing means for facilitating the winding of the fabric thereon, means for preventing reverse movement of the drawing means, means associated with the preventing means for allowing reverse movement thereof when desired, and means for removably mounting the drawing means for facilitating the disengagement of the fabric therefrom.

11. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including a base support, a supporting frame standing thereon including spaced vertical standards and a beam, a reel rotatably mounted on said support, a plurality of fabric retaining rolls mounted on the reel, a drawing roller rotatably and removably mounted in said supporting frame between said standards, measuring means pivotally supported from the standard adjacent the reel for lateral swinging movement, and means for, removably holding said measuring means in and out of engagement with the piece being withdrawn.

12. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including a base support, a supporting frame upstanding thereon including spaced vertical standards and a beam, a reel rotatably mounted on said support, a plurality of fabric retaining rolls mounted on the reel, a sectional drawing roller rotatably mounted in the supporting frame, one of the sections being eccentrically connected to the other, fabric gripping means on one of said sections, and means on the beam for facilitating the removal of the fabric wound thereon. I

13. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including a base support, a supporting frame upstanding thereon including spaced vertical standards and a beam, a reel rotatably mounted on said support, a plurality of fabric retaining rolls. mounted on the reel, a drawing roller rotatably and removably mounted in said supporting frame, and a bar mounted on said standard beam and said base support and yieldingly associated with the roller for facilitating the tight winding of fabric wound thereon.

14. A fabric reeling and measuring apparatus including a base support, a supporting frame upstanding thereon including spaced vertical standards and a beam, a reel rota tably mounted on said support, a plurality of fabric retaining rolls mounted on the reel, a drawing roller rotatably and removably mounted on said supporting frame, and a manually operated bar movably associated with the standard adjacent the reel for clamping the piece of fabric being withdrawn and for facilitating the severing of the same.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature 1n presence of two wltnesses.

JOSIAH ADDISON.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. MERGER, J OHN IRVIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

